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If you don't want an unlimited text message plan and are planning to join the AT&T family, you had better get used to coughing up $0.20 per text (or more for pics and video texts). As of this Sunday, August 21st, new AT&T customers will only have two options for their texting plans: unlimited (starting at $20 per month) or pay per text.

An AT&T representative confirmed the change this morning, telling me that the new lay of the land shouldn't shake up too many folks, particularly since the resounding majority of new customers opt for the unlimited plans regardless.

Still, the vast sea of critics who believe mobile carriers like AT&T should offer more choices rather than dictate limited options are not pleased by the news.

In case you're not keeping track, so far for 2011, this marks the second time AT&T has scaled back on its menu of text messaging plans. In January, you may recall AT&T bringing an end to the 200 messages for $5 per month plan. Also dumped was the 1500 messages for $15 per month plan. Existing customers, however, were allowed to maintain their plans.

According to AT&T, the change in text plan offerings simply represents another "streamlining" effort in its text messaging plans.

This isn't a "streamlining" effort, it's an effort to maximize revenue by minimizing choices for customers. It doesn't cost AT&T anything extra to offer a 200/500/1000 messaging plan, they simply just won't do it in the interest of maximizing revenue.

I'm surprised they didn't do away with unlimited texting like they did with unlimited data. Perhaps because the price markup is already ridiculous on texting that this is ok with the corporate big wigs.

Seriously AT&T? This should only be a warning to all of us that the ATT & T-mobile merger should NOT occur. Competition is ESSENTIAL and there is barely any at this time. Even though I have the unlimited texting plan, I know there are people who only need a minimum. Choice is important.

I'm on the $5, 200 texts plan and never go over 150. My wife is on the $10, 1000 texts plan and has yet to go over 500.

I know we'll be grandfathered in for now, but if they ever take this from us in the future we'll be jumping ship to a company that will give more options...especially now that AT&T doesn't have a monopoly on the iPhone.

I'm on the $5, 200 texts plan and never go over 150. My wife is on the $10, 1000 texts plan and has yet to go over 500.

I know we'll be grandfathered in for now, but if they ever take this from us in the future we'll be jumping ship to a company that will give more options...especially now that AT&T doesn't have a monopoly on the iPhone.

If history repeats itself (as it often does) Verizon will also do this, just as they have adopted the same "no unlimited data" policy.

I'm on the $5, 200 texts plan and never go over 150. My wife is on the $10, 1000 texts plan and has yet to go over 500.

I know we'll be grandfathered in for now, but if they ever take this from us in the future we'll be jumping ship to a company that will give more options...especially now that AT&T doesn't have a monopoly on the iPhone.

I'm with you on this one. We're both on the $5 200 plan and never go over because we use 3rd party messaging apps to text each other (can't wait for iOS 5's built in messaging!). So that's $10/mo on our bill for texts. At the new pay per text plan, 200 would cost 40 BUCKS!!! And there's absolutely no way we could afford $40/mo for both of us to be on the unlimited plan.

I swear they better not ever take away our $5 plan we currently have because we simply do not use and do not need more than a few hundred (total) per month.

You know I am usually able to see the logic behind decisions like this. This certainly is the exception. It seems to me ATT is going to do more to hurt their profits with this. Those that were on a small text plan will likely drop the plan alltogether and use various other messaging services instead. I have the unlimited plan, because I text a ton, but if I didn't I don't see myself justifying doubling or quadrupling what I currently pay for texts.

I think what is happening is that minutes are a dime a dozen. Nobody used their phones for actual voice communication anymore. People are IMing and texting all the time. Still, I don't see this as a smart move at all.

That's where Textfree comes in. All these companies offering free texting services are going to be getting a lot more money probably. I've been texting for 2 months using Textfree, and it's basically the same as using regular texting.

That's where Textfree comes in. All these companies offering free texting services are going to be getting a lot more money probably. I've been texting for 2 months using Textfree, and it's basically the same as using regular texting.

The downside of these free texting companies is that you don't get texts to your actual number (that I have seen anyway). For those that use texts for social reasons, this is acceptable. For those who need it to stay in touch with coworkers, etc. this isn't the most convenient way to do things. I have a home number, and a mobile number. last thing people need is a texting number. Most people would likely just look at mobile number and shoot a text there anyway.